Jesus has more to say to us. He has not stopped speaking!
After He had risen from the dead, Jesus came to His disciples and spoke to them. Matthew records that ‘the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go’ (Matthew 28:16). After meeting them, He continued to speak. Matthew records, ’Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go…” (Matthew 28:18-19).
Let’s be assured that if you are a disciple, He wants to speak to us. The first need and priority of a disciple is to hear Jesus.
Readings and reflections
1. Jesus had promised an ongoing relationship with Him after His death and resurrection. He said to His disciples,
“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:12-13)
How does Jesus describe the Holy Spirit and His role?
How do you, or could one intentionally listen to Jesus each day?
2. Jesus calls His people His sheep. He is their ‘Good Shepherd’. The definition of a good shepherd is loving leadership; Jesus would fail as our good shepherd if He gave up speaking to us! Jesus said,
‘My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.’ (John 10:27)
Take some time to pray, committing yourself to listening and responding to Jesus’ voice.
Is there anything that Jesus is speaking to you about at the moment?
To memorise this week: Isaiah 6:8
‘Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”’ (Isaiah 6:8)
To consider this week
A simple way to respond to Jesus command of discipleship is to become a ‘running partner’; get together with 1 or 2 brothers or sisters to encourage each other. For more details please go to:
COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY - DISCIPLES SAY "YES"
Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
Suggested opener/Ice-breaker
What was your favourite subject at school and why?
Introduction - please share in your group
On Sunday, we continued in our series on discipleship. Last week, we considered how disciples are those who are 'learning to live like Jesus'. This week, and in our devotionals, we will see that 'disciples say "yes"'; those who want to follow Jesus, hear his command to make disciples in The Great Commission and they seek to be disciples and make disciple-makers in any way that they can. Let's remind ourselves of Jesus' commission to us,
‘Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Making disciples is God's will for all of us. There are many reasons why we don't get involved such as being too busy, feeling that we don't have much to offer, not realising this is Jesus' will... but let's be clear, if you are a disciple, you need to say "yes" and get involved in making disciples. David Watson summarised what this means when he wrote,
'The verb to disciple describes the process by which we encourage another person to be a follower of Jesus; it means the methods we use to help that person to become mature in Christ and so be in a position where he or she can now disciple someone else.' (Watson Discipleship)